This juvenile female Pileated Woodpecker has been about. The shorter beak denotes she is young as well as her choice of hilarious landing spots that are quite awkward…she is learning! She is working on several dead basswood trees that her forebears have made huge holes in! We seem to be getting a flush of young juveniles trying out their skills these past few weeks!
A young Northern Flicker, Yellow Shafted, decided I wasn’t a threat and that he might have a career in modeling, front view please! Back view please! He landed several meters (yards) away on the bird bath as I sat watching him. “Just so you know…I’m just here for a drink!” he seemed to indicate after checking out the water, his reflection, blowing a few bubbles, dribbling, and thoroughly enjoying himself;)
These youngsters are not fearful, funny how that is learned in so many species.
The juvenile Red-Bellied had to take a clue from the chickadees on how exactly to get those seed thingies out of that cylinder thing full of them! It also has made some dubious landings at the suet feeder…a bit more practice and he’ll be right;)
The Blue Jays are both obnoxious, amusing and sly! Even with a cat under the table they judge for themselves the level of danger before picking a peanut off the tabletop! They are so quick, Groot doesn’t stand a chance for a blue jay stew!
He can always dream…those pumpkins smell of Blue Jay!
The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are putting in more appearances. The old dead basswoods have more holes and cavities than ever this Fall, all the pointed beaked guys have been busy there! Must be some good grubs in that soft rotting wood!
Been keeping an eye on junior up in the swamp. They were cowering in the far corner all weekend, sigh…it would have been a quiet walk out the road, a few bugs, a few birds, a few……gunshots, all the way out, and all the way back. Apparently duck hunting season has begun. If you don’t get them with the first shot, the 2nd, third and fourth…maybe? How about target practice elsewhere…
It has been a joy watching this young Trumpeter swan grow up! I just hope there is enough room for a take-off once the time comes!
It’s been a chilly Thanksgiving but it looks like we may get some more warmer weather next week! Yeah! Maybe a few more bugs and blooms and shrooms, it’s been slim pickings on the walks this week, colourful, but quiet! We’ll showcase the few butterflies and caterpillars we have seen then! Saludos amigos!
